Latest Articles
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Party leaders in the House exchange heated notes about energy policy
The House energy battle is underway again this week, with votes on a bill possible as early as tomorrow. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released an outline of the Democrats’ bill last week; it would open some new areas to offshore drilling and provide support for efficiency and renewables. House Republicans are demanding a vote on […]
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Big Oil whines that it’s something for nothing
The oil industry has figured out what I’ve been saying for weeks: The Senate Gang of 20 swap of limited, offshore drilling for lots of clean energy is something for nothing. I hope Congressional Dems figure that out, too, and vote for the darn thing in droves. The key fact to bear in mind is […]
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Gang of 20 energy bill contains ‘most significant taxpayer-backed boost to nuclear power ever’
There’s heated debate in green circles about the Gang of 20 Senate energy bill — the New Energy Reform Act of 2008 — which would open up some offshore drilling in exchange for modest support for alternatives, paid for by closing tax loopholes that benefit the oil industry. What hasn’t gotten much press is that […]
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Hunting moose
Paul Theroux on the populist totem of the moment: All this talk about moose hunting! It is as though, because of the animal’s enormous size and imposing antlers, bringing one down is a heroic feat of marksmanship. Nothing could be further from the truth. As Henry David Thoreau wrote in “The Maine Woods,” killing these […]
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Obama campaign goes on the attack while McCain’s newest ad calls for more drilling
The Obama campaign is going on the attack today. It’s releasing a new ad, “Honor,” that strings together media quotes accusing John McCain of making false claims and running a sleazy campaign. And Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden is hitting McCain with a speech — unambiguously titled “Bush 44” — that argues the Republican […]
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Umbra on cruise control
Dear Umbra, To cruise or not to cruise? That is the question. Is it more fuel efficient to use cruise control when driving, or does it use more gas to use the cruise? Carrie Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Dearest Carrie, Whether ’tis nobler to travel at constant speed — that is indeed a question. And Edmunds.com, […]
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Judge tosses federal plan to allow more snowmobiles into Yellowstone
A National Park Service plan to allow 540 snowmobiles a day into Yellowstone National Park has been tossed out by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled Monday that allowing that many ‘mobiles would increase air and noise pollution and be disturbing to wildlife — conclusions drawn, he noted, by NPS’s own data. […]
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McCain/Palin energy lie about Alaska the latest to come in for media scrutiny
In her Friday interview with Charlie Gibson, Sarah Palin said that Alaska "produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy." McCain has said the same thing — in an interview with Univision that aired Friday, he said, "Alaska supplies 20 percent of America’s energy." It’s clearly an established campaign talking point. Thing […]
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Making environmental sense of the financial storm now raging
Interpreting reports currently coming out of Wall Street is like tracking a vast hurricane as it rages its way through the Gulf and toward a population center: Conditions are way too chaotic to make confident predictions, but preparing for the worst probably isn’t a bad idea. As recently as a year ago, no one could […]
